Vetiver (2000)
by Floris

This starts out as a relatively dusty, brownish vetiver, with a little of the sweet nuttiness of the older versions of Guerlain Vetiver. More woodiness enters later in the top notes, but also an earthiness, like a more natural version of the synthetic violetty dirt that I recently found in He Wood and Rocky Mtn Wood. There's anise hiding in there as well, which slightly works to dispel the dirt aura. FV isn't really what I had in mind in exploring vetiver frags, and I think if you want the sweet woodiness, you should go for Fat Electrician or better yet L'Occitane. I agree that its crude, rustic vibe is an interesting change, but I think it's too much geranium and cedar for me, based on OdysseusM's pyramid. I'm not well-versed in the really dirty, earthy vetivers, but I can certainly say that this is a strong, sturdy scent, and as others have described it, a wild beast which has been carefully restrained.

26th September, 2011.

A classy take on vetiver with a powdery vibe reminiscent to No. 89. I get primarily sandalwood and tonka in the base. I prefer Creed’s 1948 offering, but this is certainly a suitable selection.

28th February, 2010.

Floris Vetiver is a wonderful combination of natural rustic vetiver with sophisticated smooth notes. An amazingly unique fragrance, this has much of the suave elegance of Creed (1948) with orders of magnitude more staying power. How can something be this suave and yet so raw and (at times) almost as wild as RdeV? Floris Vetiver is a mystery one can wear. This makes me think of Jimmy Cagney, the gangster turned song and dance man. Be enigmatic, try it and wear it and smile that enigmatic smile.

Almost perfect and almost impossible to find, Floris Vetiver is too good to last, its got to be discontinued soon. The golden age is over boys, let's have a drink!

14th October, 2009.

Whether or not I like a vetiver fragrance is very much dependent on the vetiver's accompanying notes. Too bitter or sour (Goutal), salty (Lalique), or herbal (Villorosi) and it doesn't appeal to me. A few months back I went on a quest to find *the* vetiver that was right for me, and after sampling pretty much every vetiver available I decided on Floris. A pleasant vetiver is joined by mild citrus and geranium on application, as well as some light spices in the background. The strong vetiver note moves to the heart, and the vetiver itself is presented to emphasize the grassier aspects of the note (as opposed to the earthier), and the vetiver joins a very stately sandalwood-heavy woody accord. From there a woody/incense base closes out the fragrance.

Since going on my quest I've come to appreciate other vetivers - Givenchy, LezNez, and Malle, but Floris remains my go-to when I need a crisp vetiver that fits any situation, season, or mood. It's discontinued so stock up before it's gone!

11th August, 2009.

Bergamot, lavender, lemon
Cinnamon, clove, coriander, geranium, vetiver
Amber, frankincense, patchouli, sandalwood, cedarwood, tonka bean
This is a superb, classy scent. It is a crime that this gem is being discontinued. The opening is rich with plummy-aromatic bergamot, freshened by citrus and the merest whiff of lavender. Vetiver quickly appears, along with lovely warm spice notes. These two elements combine in a most pleasing way. The vetiver is very well done: dry, grassy-woody, typically tangy. It is not heavy and soapy as in Guerlain. Then, great wood notes appear: sandalwood and its usual friend, cedarwood. The sandalwood is very natural and enjoyable. This is a complex scent – more than simply vetiver, I’d call it a woody-spicy vetiver. It has depth and endless charms as it drys down. The vetiver and spices provide a comforting yet also invigorating tone. I like to think that the frankincense adds a subtle green note. This has my highest endorsement!

8th May, 2009.

Floris Vetiver is very much like Route du Vetiver in the top and the middle levels – smoother than Route du Vetiver, but what wouldn’t be? I love the raw (yet not rude) vetiver presented here, and the cedarwood and sandalwood provide a very rich and deep support for the vetiver without interfering with the impressive indelicacy of the Floris’ vetiver note. The vetiver moves into the heart of the fragrance, but for a while is dominated by the spices and a little bit of geranium. The heart is very nice: The spices are quite civilized and well behaved; they continue the rich silkiness of the opening’s background. The base is very classically constructed and the vetiver plays primarily a background role with the mixed wood, slight incense, slight sweet accord. I was at first a little disoriented by the base because I expected the vetiver to play an important part there too. It doesn’t… But the base is markedly formal and exceptionally well done and appealing – I admire it, and I used to think that it was not an appropriate ending for an edgy vetiver fragrance like this one, but I have come to terms with the base and accept it for what it is... a remarkably beautifully-performing refined and classic drydown. Floris Vetiver has a firm sillage and excellent longevity. Through use it has become my indisputably favorite vetiver and securely holds its place on my top-five favorites' list.

17th October, 2008. (Last Edited: 8th December, 2010.)